The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCTA), Nyesom Wike, has made it clear that any FCTA worker who refuses to resume work by Wednesday, January 28, will face disciplinary action. This comes after the National Industrial Court ordered the workers to suspend their ongoing strike.
Speaking to journalists on Tuesday in Abuja, Wike emphasized that any worker who attempts to block access to offices or refuses to comply with the court order will be made an example of. “From tomorrow, if you don’t come to work, we are going to apply the big stick, and if we see anybody trying to block the gate, we will make you a scapegoat. The law must take its place,” he warned.
Key Points:
- Court Order: The National Industrial Court has ordered the FCTA workers to suspend their strike and resume work.
- Disciplinary Action: Wike has made it clear that any worker defying the court’s ruling will face serious consequences.
- Dialogue with Unions: The FCTA has already engaged in dialogue with the unions, addressing 10 of their 14 demands. Wike questioned why the strike continued despite these efforts.
- Strike Background: The indefinite strike, which began last week, was due to the workers’ concerns about long-standing labor and welfare issues, leading to the shutdown of major government offices in Abuja.
Wike also pointed out that the dispute had already been referred to the National Industrial Court, meaning the right to strike was no longer absolute while the matter is under judicial review.
As the deadline approaches for workers to return to work, the government is taking a firm stance to ensure the resumption of activities across the FCTA.
